EP 47: Know Your Contract, Know Your Business with Phil Collin of Mott MacDonald
Join us as we sit down with Phil Collin, Chief Growth Officer of Mott MacDonald, to explore what it takes to lead growth with purpose in the AEC industry. Drawing on three decades of engineering and program management experience, he shares lessons on culture, mentorship, communication and knowing your contract inside and out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Introduction.
01:00 Phil Collin introduces himself and his path from Maine to a 30-plus-year career in engineering and construction.
08:00 What the Chief Growth Officer role actually looks like day to day.
12:00 Why sustainable growth means building a stronger business, not just a bigger one.
17:00 Connecting everyday project work to a larger sense of purpose.
19:00 Revisiting the Goethals Bridge replacement, a career-defining P3 project.
31:00 Why lessons learned and project reviews matter more than most firms admit.
33:00 What leaders should do first to build a stronger culture.
39:00 Advice for young professionals on understanding the business side of engineering.
46:00 The mantra that has shaped how Phil approaches every conversation.
53:00 Fast-fire questions on music, sports and Phil’s go-to comfort meal.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown (book referenced by Phil Collin)
CMAA - Construction Management Association of America (mentorship program referenced in the episode)
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